A quintet of Indian players who have been included in the Caribbean Premier League
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) stands as the most prominent T20 tournament in the West Indies region. Commencing its inaugural season in 2013, it took the place of the Caribbean Twenty20 as the primary T20 championship under the aegis of Cricket West Indies.
Also Read: Ambati Rayudu Inked a Deal with St Kitts, Securing his position as Marquee player for CPL 2023
Comparable to the Indian Premier League’s structure, the CPL offers franchise owners the opportunity to compose teams comprising both local and international cricket talents. This platform significantly contributed to the rise of the West Indies cricket team’s stature in the T20 domain. Numerous emerging talents from the Caribbean have leveraged this stage to elevate their cricketing careers to new heights.
A diverse array of cricketers hailing from the majority of top cricket-playing nations have taken part in the CPL, with representation spanning the globe. Although it’s an infrequent occurrence for Indian players to feature in foreign T20 leagues, there are five individuals from India who have secured coveted CPL contracts.
Ambati Rayudu is poised to participate in the Caribbean Premier League
Ambati Rayudu, the former wicketkeeper-batsman of the Indian cricket team, is gearing up for his appearance in the 2023 CPL season, scheduled to commence on August 16. St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots have enlisted Rayudu as a marquee player for the forthcoming edition.
According to a report presented by ESPNCricinfo, Rayudu’s involvement hinges on the decision of the BCCI. Discussions within the board have revolved around the prospect of introducing a mandatory one-year cooling-off period for retired Indian cricketers before their engagement in international leagues.
Although the BCCI has not yet formally announced this regulation, it remains intriguing to observe whether Rayudu, who officially retired from the IPL in May 2023, obtains the green light to participate in the CPL.
Shreyanka Patil will participate in the Caribbean Premier League 2023
Shreyanka Patil, a cricketer from the Indian women’s team, is on the brink of creating a significant milestone in the upcoming CPL 2023 season. She will make history as the first female Indian cricketer to join the competition, representing Guyana Amazon Warriors in the women’s CPL.
The women’s CPL, commencing on August 31, will showcase three teams: Guyana Amazon Warriors, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Barbados Royals.
Pravin Tambe participated in the 2020 edition of the Caribbean Premier League
Pravin Tambe contributed to the victory of the Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2020 Caribbean Premier League. Initially slated to represent the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020, his eligibility was revoked by the BCCI due to his involvement in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.
Consequently, Tambe subsequently took the field for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL, achieving an accomplishment of three wickets across three matches.
Sunny Sohal was part of the Caribbean Premier League in 2018.
Sunny Sohal, a former India U-19 cricketer, relocated to the United States several years back. Before bidding adieu to Indian cricket, Sohal had notable stints with Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Currently aligned with the United States cricket scene, this Punjab-born athlete transitioned to playing for the Barbados Tridents in CPL 2018. Across two matches, he tallied a score of 39 runs.
Smit Patel participated in the Caribbean Premier League of 2021
Smit Patel, yet another former player from the India U-19 roster, finds his place on the roster. An integral part of the victorious 2012 U-19 World Cup team in Australia, Patel’s cricket journey extended to the U-23 level representing India.
Having contributed his skills to Gujarat, Baroda, and Tripura in the domestic cricket circuit, Patel officially stepped away from Indian cricket in 2021. In the same year, he embarked on his Caribbean Premier League journey, donning the jersey of the Barbados Royals. Over five matches, he amassed a total of 70 runs, making a noteworthy debut with a half-century against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
